Chương 51: Moonedge

Vaelith went to get Moolisa and the cart while Sable and I walked toward the Adventurer's Guild. There was still the open bounty on the golem, and I wanted to see if there was anything else we had missed before we set out.

"And so you think Marnie and Fenna are seeking out Ysra?" I asked.

"Why?"

"The witch's curse," Sable replied.

"Or favor, as some people think. They likely believe they can make a deal with Ysra for Fenna's freedom. Even if she can, it is unlikely they can pay whatever price she will demand."

"And you loved this person?" She nodded.

"I still do, in a way. And I hate her too. Ysra is a complicated individual. If you treat her like some common monster, then you'll be blind to what she is truly capable of."

"That's worrying… but how would they even know where Ysra is?"

"Marnie may have asked me about her. Asked what sort of signs showed she was nearby." I snapped my fingers.

"The mist." Sable nodded.

"The townsfolk I spoke to said that Marnie had asked about the mist. Perpetual and ever-churning—that's Ysra, alright. She's close. I know it. And worse, that is not the most worrying thing of all…"

"What?" Sable grabbed me and held me close.

"Pretend we're in a lover's embrace." She pulled me even closer, her breath hot against my neck, her scent faintly sweet beneath the dust and smoke that hung over Stoneford. She whispered in my ear, "Our lord has made dealings with Ysra."" What!" I exclaimed, drawing several unwanted looks from nearby townsfolk. Sable pulled me back against her.

"Sorry," I whispered.

"How do you know?"

"Well, he didn't outright tell me, but when I mentioned the witch, his face dimmed. No, he was filled with dread. Now, as for how they know each other… well, I can only guess. Ysra has her fingers and webs in so many reaches of the world. She and her tower can teleport to any established place of power. Marnie, Fenna, Lord Bracken, and Ysra… it's all connected. I know it." She stepped back and adjusted her hat. A few of the townsfolk nearby gave me knowing grins. I sighed.

"And have you decided what to do about the witch? Do you still want to kill her?"

"I… no. I don't. But I will if it ends my curse.

'You must do what you cannot to break the curse.' How can I do what I can't?" I shrugged. Sable lowered her head. The brim of her hat cast a shadow over her eyes.

"I wanted to kill her for so many years, and now that I'm so close, I falter. Perhaps I deserve this curse."

"And you still haven't told me what happened between you two."

"And I won't," Sable replied.

"Now, are we heading out or what?" I saw the front of the Adventurer's Guild ahead. It was busy. Far busier than I had ever seen it. The heavy doors stood open, and adventurers moved in and out of the place in a steady stream. It seemed rumors of the golem having been defeated had spread. Now the townsfolk were picking up other, smaller bounties with the area safe again. Or safer, at least. I turned and noticed the human stonesmith I'd spoken to the day before.

He didn't notice me, and he carried a heavy sack slung over one shoulder as he made his way back toward his storefront. I handed Sable one of the cores.

"Here," I said.

"This should serve to prove we killed the golem. Show it to them, collect the rewards, and buy some cooking ingredients for me."

"Wait!" she replied.

"Where are you going?"

"Prior business. I'll catch up." This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"I don't know what ingredients you need."

"Here—" I opened the system message and flicked it in her direction.

"Common ingredients should do it. I have a feeling we're going to need all the help we can get." I left before Sable could respond, following the merchant. By the time I caught up with him, he had made it back to his storefront. The stonesmith turned, saw me, and smiled.

"Oh, if it isn't our heroic golem-slayer now."

"I wouldn't go that far… it sort of killed itself." The merchant looked at me curiously.

"Long story." The merchant slapped the table.

"Well then, I assume you have a core for me?" Carefully, I pulled it out of my pocket. Really, it was more for effect than anything. The core was incredibly durable before it was boiled. The man slapped his enormous stomach and snatched it from me. While he examined it, turning the smooth black oval beneath the morning light, he said, "By the gods, you've actually done it. When I heard about your little party—what were you called again? The Hungry Crown? Cute name.

Well, when I heard you took down the golem, I thought it was a joke. You lot left with so little prep. Your group must be incredibly strong."

"As I said, we sort of got lucky. Another day and I could've been crushed into a mushy paste."

"Well I, for one, am glad that was not the case. And this…" He held the core aloft, inspecting the way the light moved across its dark surface.

"It is a fine specimen indeed. Not quite stone, but not not stone either."

"Yeah, I know. I ate one."

"You… ate one?" I nodded absently.

"What did it taste like?"

"Like steak and eggs."

"Steak?"

"Cow steak… and eggs."

"Sounds… delicious?"

"It really was." The merchant whistled.

"Oy, son, get out here. And bring the knife."

"Which knife?" a voice called from inside.

"You know, the knife."

"Yeah, I know—but which one? The stabbing knife, the cutting knife, the black knife, the white knife—""That one."

"Which one?"

"The white one!"

"Why didn't you just say that?"

"I'm saying it now." The merchant pressed his fingers to his temples.

"Dear wife, please come home and help me with this child."

"You drove her off, remember?" the dwarven son said, appearing from inside carrying the knife.

"And I'm a full-grown man, not a kid. I have a beard bigger than you."

"You're half dwarf, you had a bigger beard when you were two years old." I coughed.

"Right…" The merchant cleared his throat.

"Well, a deal is a deal. Here—" he handed over the knife "—be careful. It's very sharp." The blade felt cool in my hand, far smoother than any ordinary stone. Its pale surface caught the sunlight and seemed to hold on to it, giving off a faint white glow.

"How do I treat it? Do I need to sharpen it?" The merchant smiled. A system screen appeared before him, and he flicked it over to me.

"Read for yourself," he said. System Item: Moonedge Description: A blade that shines with such a brilliant white glow that it is said to be made from the moon itself. Passive Skills: Corecarver, Faultline, Keen Razor Corecarver: Core ingredients carved with this blade will never expire. Faultline: The blade, as if guided by a mysterious hand, finds the structural weaknesses of monster tissue, muscle, and bone. Keen Razor: Cutting into monsters, dead or alive, causes the blade to sharpen rather than dull.

The weapon dulls at a greater rate when used against other weapons or when cutting non-monster materials.

"Holy… shit…" I said, reading over the passives.

"This is… this is…"

"Incredible, isn't it?" the merchant said, thumping his chest.

"I can't take this," I replied.

"One core wasn't enough for a weapon this—" The merchant waved me off.

"—Maybe not, but what I can make with this core far outweighs the use of Moonedge. Most adventurers wouldn't care much for those passives as they seem, oddly, tailored to you." He glanced at the blade in my hand.

"Almost as if the gods themselves directed my hand to craft it and then sent you to me." He shrugged.

"But it is not my place to question the gods or the system. The trade is concluded, as is our business. Now, if you'll excuse me…" He turned to head back into his shop, holding the core carefully in both hands.

"This little trinket is dying for me to mold it into something new." He disappeared inside, leaving me and his dwarven son behind.

"Don't mind Pa," the dwarf said.

"He's always goin' off like this. Thank you for your patronage, and please come again. Recommend us to your friends." I couldn't take my eyes off the knife glowing pale white in my hands.

"Yeah," I replied nonchalantly.

"I will."